Rome’s Best Hotels Are Getting Stylish Revamps

Many of the city’s storied hotels are hitting the refresh button.

Capitalizing on a destination that contains so much beauty and art that it almost feels fake, Rome’s grand dame hotels sometimes fall prey to some fraying around the edges because of their incredible setting. But this season, many of the storied spots are dusting off the fustiness and amping up their glamour quotient.

One of the standouts is Hotel Eden Rome. Close to the Borghese gardens, and only short walk to the Spanish Steps, the property sits outside the tourist trail, and offers one of the most beautiful views of Rome from its rooftop terrace. Now, after an 18-month revamp, the hotel has reduced its 121 rooms to 98 in order to increase each unit’s square footage. They’ve brightened up the rather chintzy, dark wood atmosphere of the rooms with a lighter color palette. The hotel’s makeover also includes a new Sonya Dakar spa, a secret lobby bar, and a state-of-the-art control system—for everything from entertainment to room service.

Courtesy Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts/Photo by Antonio Saba

The bar at Rome Cavalieri.

With its old-school wood-paneled bar (staffed with veteran white-gloved bartenders who turn out a proper Martini), and an insanely enviable address off the Via Condotti, the Hotel d’Inghilterra has long been a beloved institution. But even the most loyal customers could see that the rooms weren’t up to snuff of late. Thankfully, the hotel has hit the refresh button with a complete overhaul of the interiors—think custom beds, well-lit marble bathrooms and smart TVs. The hotel still maintains the charm of its 19th-century roots— after all, this was the former home of the poet John Keats.

The Rome Cavalieri (Waldorf Astoria), home to a three-Michelin-star Heinz Beck restaurant and outdoor pool, has added new units like the Petronius suite, which includes a state-of-the-art kitchen for private dinner parties, and some of the best views of the city. Meanwhile, the Hassler Roma, sitting atop the Spanish Steps, recently unveiled three brand new palatial suites with living rooms as well as a re-haul of the hotel’s restaurant Imàgo—check out the new wine cellar. And at the stylish Hotel de Russie (Rocco Forte Hotels) there is a trio of new suites, including one named after Picasso who once lived here.

Courtesy Starwood Hotels & Resorts/Photo by Matthias Hamel

Finally, the St. Regis Rome is midway through a complete renovation of its iconic building from 1894….